When being taught about the war of 1812, we focus primarily on the perspective of the British and Americans. But does anybody ever stop to think about what this war would have looked like for the First Nations people of Canada? 

   In this blogpost, I will highlight what I think the First Nations point of view would have looked like during the time of the war of 1812. I will also share what I believe their feelings and opinions towards the battles would have been, and how they benefitted form partaking in the war. 

   Going into the battles that made up the war of 1812, the First Nations people wisely sided with the British who were fighting to keep the land that is now Canada, safe and in their possession. Both the First Nations and the British wanted to keep the Americans from expanding up into what’s now modern day Canada. The First Nations people wanted to keep the Americans from taking over their ancestral land. In order to keep this land protected, more than 10000 First Nations warriors help to fight in almost every major battle, during the war of 1812. Not only did the First Nations increase the British’s army sizes, but they also offered exceptional fighting abilities. As a First Nations person, I would feel very honoured to be able to offer so much to the British army. It would make me fight with pride knowing that my contribution was making a big difference in protecting my ancestors lands. 

   There were three main areas that the war was fought on: the Western Great Lakes region, the Niagara region and the St. Lawrence region. In all three of these places, First Nations warriors helped to keep the American warriors from invading, and taking over the land. I imagine the First Nations saw this as a very important job, as the work they were doing was helping to keep their ancestral lands protected from being over taken. 

   The First Nations played a very key part in the victory at the Battle of Detroit. If it hadn’t been for the Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, and his great deception and bluffing techniques, the outcome of the Battle of Detroit may have been very different. Even thought the British went into the fight with less men, they were able to use strategic planning and deception methods to trick the Americans into surrendering. Once again, as a First Nations person, I would take much pride in the fact that it was because of not only our great efforts that the Battle was won, but also our traditions and practices that played a huge part in the British victory. 

   Overall, I think that the First Nations people fought the battles involved in the war of 1812 with a lot of heart and a lot of drive. This drive came not only from the fact that they were protecting their ancestral land, but that they were also protecting their ties with the British. 

   These ties with the British helped to provide them with jobs and equipment they wouldn’t otherwise have. If it wasn’t for the British people living in “Canada” the fur trade would not have existed. And to the First Nations people the fur trade was very important, as it provided many of them with a source of income. They were able to trade the pelts and furs they hunted for valuable things that they needed. This included things like pots, pans, weapons, metals... So by fighting along side the British, they helped to not only keep the fur trade alive, but also strengthen their ties with the British, and keep their ancestral land safe and out of the hands of the Americans. 

1812 The War That Saved Canada(2012)Uploaded By: Canadian War Museum. 

Available online at: https://legionmagazine.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/1812Lead.jpg

Websites used:

https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1338906261900/1338906300039

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/m/article/first-nations-in-the-war-of-1812/

In Anther Person's Shoes: Jacques Cartier

     Cartier was a Canadian explorer and was born in 1491 and died September 1st 1557. Throughout his career he was considered a good explorer, until his career slowly came to an end after the French were not interested in exploring North America for half a century. Within his career he was a part of three major North American exploration trips. He sailed with many great explorers such as Henry Hudson and Lewis & Clark, guiding them and helping them with their many expeditions. 

     In 1534 which was his first solo expedition, as a captain not a guide. King Francis of France funded his journey to search for gold and other riches such as, spices and a route to Asia. When exploring the west coast of Newfoundland he discovered what we now call today Prince Edward Island and sailed through the gulf of St. Lawrence. Upon returning to France, King Francis was very much impressed with Cartier's findings and sent him back the next year. While on his first trip he had captured two First Nations that would now serve him as guides. The second trip was more focused on establishing a base, after navigating the St. Lawrence.

     During the fall, Cartier travelled down the river which is now referred to as Montreal and was greeted by the Iroquois who at the time controlled the area. They told him about the rivers that led farther west where all the gold, silver, copper, and spices were found. After a cold winter in Canada for Cartier and his men, Cartier then captured more Iroquois men in the spring when the ice on the river was gone. This only made the Iroquois mad, so Cartier quickly sailed back to France. He then reported to the king of all the untold riches in the west and about the 2,000 mile long river that supposedly led to Asia. 

     May of 1541 Cartier departed on his third and final voyage a total of five ships. His mission was to establish a permanent settlement along the St. Lawrence river for the French. He set up camp near Quebec, finding a great abundance of what was perceived to be gold and diamonds. They were discovered as not real as he soon found out upon his arrival. 

     Cartier's exploring overall greatly effected France, even today. He helped to secure settlements, as well as brought back resources to benefit the French  and mapped out different areas of Canada. The work that he did with settlements was greatly appreciated by the British when they took over the French land in Canada. By capturing Iroquois men, as well as taking over their land and their resources Cartier did not have the best first impression with the First Nations. From my stand point with a few bumps in the road Cartier very much impacted Canada and our future as well as our history

Jacques Cartier.(2014)Marcel Trudel. Available online at http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cartier_jacques_1491_1557_1E.html